Washing machine



Sept. 17, 1929. BLOCK 1,728,744

' WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENT CIR.

Wu z 7% ATTORNEYS 2 Shets-Sheet IZ I @IW ATT DRNEYE I I VENTEIFL 5 2h F ER M. E. BLOCK WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1928 IIIIIILIII IIII I I| IL;

Sept. 17, 1929.

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 NITED' STA MEYER E.

BLOCK, or remain, rumors wasmne MACHINE Application filed February 20, 1928. Serial No. 255,790.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to driving and clutching mechanism therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a driving mechanism for washmg machines adapted to be located below the tub portion and to oscillate a vertical drive shaft projecting through the bottom center of the tub.

Another object lies in the provision of an agitator type of washing machine in which the driving mechanism therefor is disposed beneath the tub, said driving mechanism comprising a fixed or driven gear u on the lower end of a vertical drive sha t projecting through the bottom center of the tub, a segmental gear pivoted immediately adjacent the stationary gear and a clutch portion formed as a part of the pivot member-operating to move the segmental gear away from and towards the stationary gear.

Other objects'of the invention will appear in the following specification, taken inconnection with the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in'section, showing in detail the arrangement of the driving and clutch mechanism; 1 Fig. 2 is a plan View, partially broken away, of Fig. 1; and i Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing in plan, portions thereof being partially broken away of the driving and clutch mechanism.

The present application is directed primarily to the driving and clutching means for the agitator portion of a washing machine.

In the manufacture of Washing machines, present applicant has found that in order to reduce vibration and to provide a quietly run ning washer, extreme care must be exercised in the designing and development of the drivjections to drives for washing machines and.

to simplify the structure greatly, applicant has provided a simple and eflicient driving connection, cooperating with the tub portion of the washer, the same to be described in detail following a general description of the washing machine proper.

Referring specificallyto the drawings, and especially Fig. 1 thereof, the tub portion is shown at 10, supported by the plural leg portions 11, the latter having adjustably connected thereto, as at 12, the roller members 13. A sturd frame portion 14 connects the lower ends 0 the leg port-ions 11. One of the leg portions, namely 15, also supports the housing 16 for a portion of the gearing later to be described.

Adjacent the bottom 17 of the tub 10 is disposed a water agitating member, generally'described as 18, but made u of the following portions, namely, a dis 19, an upstanding sleeve 20 and a capportion 21 securely attached, as at 22, to the upper end of the vertically disposed water-agitating shaft 23, which projects through an opening in the bottom center of the tub. An upstanding. column 24 has a water-tight connection with the bottom of the tub, and is raised to a position which brings the water exit portion above the normal water line, said column 211-. so so operating in a manner to support the water-agitating member. A plurality of blades 25 is formed on the disk 19. The disk also has a bearing relationship, as at 26, to prevent lateral movement during oscillation. 35 Means for oscillating the vertical drive shaft, and therefore the water-agitating member, is provided in the following mechanism.

A supporting casting 27 is securely bolted as at the plural points 28, to a downwardly 9 projecting portion 29 formed as a part of the bottom of the tub. A driven gear 31 is fixedly mounted upon the drive shaft 23 just above the supporting casting 27, which also provides a bearing support 32 for the lower end of the vertical drive shaft. The supporting casting 27 has a projecting portion 33 which co-operates with another downwardly extending bracket 34, which forms a part of the bottom of the tub to support the eccentric 10o 35 upon which a segment gear 36 is adapted to oscillate. The eccentric, generally referred to as 35, is supported between the bracket portions 33 and 34 by means of a downwardly projecting pin 37 and an upwardly pro ect1ng pin 38 projecting through the before mentioned supporting bracket 34. The pins 37 and 38 have an offset mounting with respect to the main eccentric 35, it being apparent, however, that the oscillation of the segment gear takes place about said main eccentric 35. The segment 36 has its pivot about eccentric 35 disposed immediately ad-' jacent the driven gear, said segment having a rearwardly projecting portion 39, which in turn has pivoted thereto, as at 40, a pitman 41 pivoted as at 42 to a crank 43 which in turn is secured as at 44 to a drive shaft 45, the same having its lower bearing support 46 formed in the lower part 47 of the before mentioned gear casing 16. Fixedly secured to the drive shaft 45 is a worm gear 48 which in turn is driven by a conventional worm 49 suitably supported in bearings 50 and 51 in the housing member surrounding same and also forming a part of the gear housing. Upon the outer end of the shaft 52 for the worm 49 is mounted a pulley53 which has a belt connection 54 with the pulley 55 secured to the axis 56 of the conventional electric motor 57.

There has now been described generally the power connection between the electric motor and the vertical drive shaft to which is connected the agitator portion of the washer. The means for clutching and unclutching the segment 36 from the driven gear 31 will now be described.

A crank 58 is fixedly pinned, as at 59, to the upper and projecting end of the lug 38,-'the said crank having secured on its outer end, as at 60, a laterally proj ecting rod 61. This rod in turn is secured, as at 62, to the outer end description thereof, it being considered necessary to point out merely that the segment 36 normally has power transmitted thereto through the pitman 41 with the resultant oscillation about the eccentric 35 disposed immediately adjacent the driven gear. The mounting of the pivot upon the upwardly and downwardly projecting lug portions which are in turn pivoted in the respective portions permits a clutching or unclutching operation ofthe segment and driven gear by manual movement of the crank 58 which in turn "moves the eccentric 35 in a manner to vary the position of the segment 36 with respect to the driven gear 31.

What I claim is:

In a washing machine including a tub portion, a water-agitating member disposed therein, a drive shaft projecting through the bottom of said tub and connected to the water agitator, means for driving said water agitator including a driven, gear fixed to the vertical drive shaft below the bottom of the tub, a segment gear having its pivot immediately adjacent the driven gear, a bracket supporting the lower end of the vertical drive shaft, a vertically disposed pivot for the segment gear, said pivot having eccent'rically mounted pin members projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom, one of 'said pins being carried in the before mentioned bracket member, said pins providing the support for the pivot, and manually operable crank means for moving one of the eccentric pins in a manner to move thepegment gear away from and towards the driven gear and thus accomplish the clutching operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MEYER E. BLOCK.

of a second crank 63 which either forms a;

part 9f or is fixedly secured to a vertically disposed, rod 64 extending alongside of the tub and being secured thereto in bearing por tions provided in bracket 65 secured to the tub. The upper end of rod 64 has a manually operable lever 66 secured thereto, as at 67, the movement of same obviously accomplishing movement of the first named crank 58, with a resultant turning of the lugs 37 and 38 and a consequent movement of the main pivot 35 for the segment gear. Due to the eccentric mounting of the lugs 37 and 38 with respect to eccentric 35, it is apparent that the movement of manual control lever 66 results in movement of the segment .36 either away from or towards the driven gear 31 as the case may be.

We have now described the mechanical portions which make up not only the washer but 65 apparent, in view of the detail disclosure and 

